Illiberalism in the Global South and the Rise of China and Russia

Abstract

Abstract Illiberal governance is on the rise across the globe. In parallel, China and Russia are increasing their investments and political presence in many countries. This chapter argues that both actors are leveraging existing illiberal trends in the Global South to expand their global reach. The chapter focuses on three countries—Brazil, South Africa, and Pakistan—to demonstrate how the rise of domestic illiberalism, fueled by polarized politics, corruption, and an appeal to traditional values, has turned both China and Russia into attractive international partners in otherwise pro-Western and democratic countries of the Global South. Aggressive plans for economic growth in these countries have been fueled in part by their leaders’ personal ambitions for consolidating power. Particularly appealing are China’s one-party political system, responsible for the country’s economic growth, and Beijing’s investment in large infrastructure projects, as well as Russia’s positioning of the Orthodox Church at the center of domestic politics and its Soviet-era ties with the Global South.